Constant Contact

Reformat your inner dialog.

Don't talk to yourself but to God,

Praise and prayer and singing hymns all day. 

     The first time I received an email from an organization that used the Constant Contact® email marketing program, I was reminded of Brother Lawrence, the 17th Century Monk.  He truly lived in constant contact -- with God, that is.  If you haven't read the little book, The Practice of the Presence of God, may I suggest it to you?  This amazing man, his life and trials, are a testament to the power of "practicing the presence."  And if I could emulate just a tiny portion of his immense humility, my life would be blessed beyond my wildest dreams.  And he lived by this, "The time of work does not with me differ from the time of prayer."

     Compared to Brother Lawrence, I would have to say that my prayer life has been puny at best.  But on those days when I have made a concerted effort to be in constant contact with the Lord, I have witnessed first-hand, His multiplication of time.  When I tried to explain the phenomenon to my friend, Barb, I was at a loss to find the right words.  Coincidentally, she had just handed me a magazine with an article that made reference to "Practicing the Presence."  Because I was preparing to wrap up a seven-month women's Bible study, a great deal of which focused on Brother Lawrence, she thought I would find some useful information for our last session.  In that article was the perfect description of what I was incapable of explaining to her that day:

            "As I analyze myself I find several things happening to me as a result of these two months of strenuous effort to keep the Lord in mind every minute.  This concentration upon God is strenuous, but everything else has ceased to be so.  I think more clearly, I forget less frequently.  Things which I did with a strain before, I now do easily and with no effort whatever."--Brim, Billye, "What to do when you see the wicked prospering," Believer's Voice of Victory, May 2012:16-18.

     To this I would simply add for myself that on those days when I am successful at "practicing," time seems to stand still.  I look at the clock, having effortlessly completed a mountain of tasks, and cannot believe that such a tiny amount of time has passed.  I completed a day's work of tasks and it is 10:30 A.M.  WOW!  And this happens each and every day when I make the effort to be in constant contact with the Father.  What I have learned is very powerful.  When I give everything over to Him, He becomes my "Day-Planner."  And not only that, He fills me with indescribable joy as I float about without a care, accomplishing all that He desires for me on that day --  and I have a constant companion!  I sing and talk with Him while ironing, cleaning, writing; whatever I am doing.  His Spirit overtakes me, and in my surrender of my time to Him, He "takes care of things." 

     Yes, I still use a planning calendar -- but I can honestly say that if I ditched it and totally relied on Him, He wouldn't allow me to overlook anything that matters on my "to do" list that is within His will for my day.  And He nudges me at exactly the right time.  How awesome is that?